NetNoir Inc. :NetNoir Inc. Case No. 6 1


Slide 2:E David Ellington (Cofounder, Chairman And CEO of NetNoir Inc.) Personal Information: Born: July 10, 1960, in New York, NY Education: Adelphi University, bachelor's degree(1981); Howard University, master's degree(1983); Georgetown University, law degree. 2


Slide 3:Career Served on House Subcommittee on Africa and worked in the office of a U.S. congressman, early 1980s Public Interest Communications, employed in telemarketing department McKenna & Cuneo, Los Angeles, law clerk Practiced at law firms specializing in entertainment law Law Offices of E. David Ellington, Los Angeles, founder, early 1990s; Beverly Hills Bar Association, International Law Section, chairman of NetNoir Inc., Chief executive officer and cofounder with Malcolm Casella, 1995. 3


Slide 4:1. He practiced entertainment law in Los Angeles. 2. He was introduced to a friend who was getting a master’s in computer science , he thought him a great deal about CD-ROM technology and multimedia. 3. After that they both decided to build a business together . 4


Slide 5:Life's Work 1. He started the NetNoir Inc "The Cyber gateway to Afro centric Culture”. 2. NetNoir Inc., a San Francisco multimedia services company focusing on black culture and lifestyle and providing marketing opportunities, market research, and media solutions to other companies targeting the African-American market. 3.His business became successful but he observed that many people of color are not participating. 5


Slide 6:4. He then thought of bringing people of color and other disadvantaged folks into this industry, where they can participate and not get squeezed out. 5. In 1997 He met Dan Geiger, consultant to the Bay Area's Local Economic Assistance Program (LEAP), who wanted to start a training program to get minorities involved in Internet businesses. 6


Slide 7:A Model that Benefits Everyone 1. Need for skilled workers at a certain level 2. With Dan and LEAP, David Ellington founded OpNet (www.opnetwork.org), a model that benefits both the new-media industry and low-income youth. 3. Five-week training component in professional skills: How to use a laptop, how to use Photoshop and do Java scripting and basic coding in HTML. There's also some basic social training, such as learning how to answer a phone, how to dress appropriately, and how to get to work on time in the morning. 7


Slide 8:Bring People into the Mainstream 1. OpNet has staff members who maintain relationships with each of the graduates and have weekly meetings with them. 2. OpNet isn't just about training. OpNet is about wealth creation. 8


Slide 9:Build a Sustainable Organization 1. OpNet was initially funded by LEAP, which runs Community Bank of the Bay. 2. Nonprofits to do good work, but also want them to be much more accountable and entrepreneurial. 9


Slide 10:Share Wealth to Improve Lives David Ellington’s message to entrepreneurs is, Bring financial resources to an existing non-profit, or start one your self. Second, give time personally. It's one thing to sit at your desk and write a check and another thing to make the organization part of your life. The entrepreneurial resources of the participants, in helping to drive the non-profit, are equally as important as writing checks. 3. Third, bring the same level of expectation, in terms of entrepreneurial perspective, to the non-profit in which you're involved. Ultimately, philanthropy is self-serving. As a businessperson, I'm focused on turning NetNoir into a business and providing a return on investment for my investors. 4. 10


Slide 11:David Ellington’s message to entrepreneurs “We are in the greatest economic boom in our country's history. In this economy, I would hope that entrepreneurs share their wealth and stand as examples so that more people can benefit. As more people benefit, society improves and more people get a shot at a piece of the pie. It helps us all. It may even encourage more young people to become entrepreneurs. In my mind, that would be great”. 11


Slide 12:TO BE DISCUSSED Would you subscribe to the view that organizational growth depends on what it draws from Society? Should an organization subscribe to the development of those who are socially handicapped and at what stage? “Giving it back to the Society with full fervor is being too idealistic for an organization!” Please comment. Does it augur well to work for a social cause through a non profit organization when you are in business? 12